Album Review

Produced by Mitchell Froom, Packed! includes a cover of Hendrix's "May This Be Love" and "When Will I See You," a collaboration with guitarist Johnny Marr. [A U.K.-only CD/DVD set was released in 2015.]

Biography

Formed: 1978 in London, England

Genre: Rock

Years Active: '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s

Over the years, the Pretenders became a vehicle for guitarist/vocalist Chrissie Hynde's songwriting, yet it was a full-fledged band when it was formed in the late '70s. With their initial records, the group crossed the bridge between punk/new wave and Top 40 pop more than any other band, recording a series of hard, spiky singles that were also melodic and immediately accessible. Hynde was an invigorating, sexy singer who bent the traditional male roles of rock & roll to her own liking, while guitarist...